Are You Protecting Your Children?

The growing awareness of safe driving and state safety laws have alerted
the general public and parents to the importance of using car seats for
their small children whenever and wherever they are driving. Most states
require the use of car seats for children under the age of 4 and weighing
less than 40 pounds. However, these safety rules aimed at protecting children
may cause serious neck and spinal injuries and can even be deadly if the
child car seats are used incorrectly.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), its Council on Occupational
Health and ACA member Dr. Michael Freeman, trauma epidemiologist and clinical
assistant professor of public health and preventive medicine at the Oregon
Health Sciences University School of Medicine, have developed the following
general guidelines and safety tips to ensure proper car seat safety.

Make sure the child safety seat is appropriate for the age and size of
the child. A newborn infant requires a different seat than a 3-year-old
toddler.

Car seats for infants should always be rear facing as the forces and impact
of a crash will be spread more evenly along the back and shoulders, providing
more protection for the neck.

Car seats should always be placed in the back seat of the car-ideally
in the center. This is especially important in cars equipped with air
bags. If an air bag becomes deployed, the force could seriously injure
or kill a child or infant placed in the front seat.

Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle
and is placed at a 45-degree angle to support the head of the infant
or child.

The lap harness should be fastened low, as close to the hips as possible;
the harness should never be fastened around the waist.

Make certain the shoulder harness is fastened securely and the straps
lay flat against the body. Twisted straps can cause additional injury
that might prevent the seat from working properly.

Use a retention clip (if provided by the manufacturer) when securing a
child safety seat with the shoulder harness. The retention or shoulder
harness clip is an added safety feature and must be fastened close to
the armpit of the infant or child.

Borrowing or purchasing a used car seat can be dangerous; there is the
possibility of unknown or undetected damage. Car seats that have been
in a serious accident should never be used again.

Be sure the seat meets federal motor vehicle safety seat standards. Consult
the owner's manual or contact the manufacturer for that information.
All car seats should have an owner's manual and instruction booklet.

Be sure the clip between the legs of the child is fastened snugly.

While car accidents can be dangerous for all passengers, small children
are especially at risk, according to Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of
ACA's Council on Occupational Health. "The weight of the head of a child
makes the cervical spine much more vulnerable to injury," Dr. Bautch explained. "The
infant has little control in the muscles of the neck, and the head can
bounce from side to side and fall forward, which can cause serious spine
and neck injuries. Children have more flexible upper bodies and shoulders.
Make sure the harness comes up, way up, over the shoulders."

Underscoring the importance of proper car seat use, a recent article in
Nation's Health reported the findings of a study conducted in Kentucky
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study found a 37
percent drop in infant fatalities since the 1982 enactment of the state
law mandating the use of child car seats. "To continue this decline, prevention
efforts now must focus on the proper use of the seats to maximize their
life-saving potential," the researchers said.

The key when traveling with small children is to be aware of and follow
these rules and tips to ensure proper car seat safety. And remember everyone:
Buckle up!

If you or one of your children have been involved in a serious automobile
accident and have experienced neck and back discomfort, you should consider
a visit to a chiropractor.